Ceiling runners and partition structure



May 15, 1956 N. NELssON CEILING RUNNERS AND PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24.4, y.: if. Z@

Wmulmwum i Il W il May 15, 1956 N. NELssoN CEILING RUNNERS AND PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O CEILING RUNNERS AND PARTITION STRUCTURE Nels Nelsson, Chicago, lll., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 16, 1949, Serial No. 127,566

3 Claims. (Cl. 72-46) This invention relates to a partition wall construction and more particularly to improvements in a ceiling runner, and the present application being a continuationin-part of my pending patent application Serial No. 769,334, filed August 19, 1947, now abandoned.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a ceiling runner to be used in combination with wall members and associated holding clips for erecting a partition wall having improved structural characteristics.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ceiling runner to be used in combination with wall members and associated holding clips for erecting a partition wall wherein the keying effect of the plaster subsequently applied to the wall member is improved.

A further object is to provide a ceiling runner which is simple yet durable in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a ceiling runner is provided which is substantially L- shaped in cross section. The shorter flange or leg section of the runner is fastened to the ceiling while the longer ange or leg section extends downwardly thereom. The longer leg section has formed therein a plurality of elongated openings arranged in staggered, overlapping relation. The lower edge of the longer flange is offset so as to engage the adjacent surface of the wall members and hold them in spaced relation with respect to the remainder of said ange when the wall members are positioned adjacent thereto.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be made to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an unplastered partition Wall;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the partition wall taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ceiling runner;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the ceiling runner;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view of a partition erected in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a partition wall employing a facing strip;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the facing strip shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the facing strip shown in Fig. 6 shaped to conform to an arch.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l and 2, a partition wall construction is shown comprising an elongated ceiling runner 10 fastened to an overhead supporting member 11 by means of nails or other fasteners 12, a plurality of plasterboards 13a and 13b arranged in an upright side-by-side position, and a plurality of holding clips 14 adapted to cooperate with ceiling runner 10 for resiliently holding plasterboards 13a and 13b thereagainst. The clip 14 is made of heavy wire, the shorter leg 19 being bent slightly inwardly, so as to grip the downwardly extending leg of the ceiling runner.

2,745,277 Patented May 15, 1956 The ceiling runner 10 is susbtantially L-shaped in cross section and has its shorter ange or leg section 15 secured in place by the nails 12. The flange 15 is slightly bowed or longitudinally bent along the line 15', as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 16 through which the nails 12 extend. When the runner is fastened to member 11, the flange 15 is flexed or deformed into a substantially flat condition as shown in Fig. 2. The tension thus created causes fiange 15 to press snugly against the surface to which it is applied and against the heads of nails 12, thereby holding the runner firmly in place. A further advantage afforded by the bowing of ange 15 is that the flange is more rigid and leSS likely to be bent or kinked while being handled.

The longer ange or leg section 17 extends downwardly from the member 11 and is disposed at a substantially.

right angle with respect to flange 15. Flange 17 is provided with a plurality of elongated openings 18 arranged in vertically spaced rows and in overlapping, staggered relation with respect to one another. The openings 18 enable the short, runner-engaging leg 19 of clip 14 to extend therethrough as shown in Fig. 2. The lower or free edge portion 20 of flange 17 is offset a slight amount so that only the extreme edge 20' engages the adjacent surface of the plasterboards 13a and 13b when they are operatively positioned. against runner 10. One of the advantages of offsetting lower edge 20 is to give greater rigidity to the flange itself. A further advantage is that a firmer grip by the holding clip 14 on the plasterboards is obtained. Also, the space 21 provided between the remainder of flange 17 and the adjacent surface of the plasterboard affords a better keying for the plaster which is subsequently applied to the plasterboards.

The method of erecting 'the partition wall is as follows: The ceiling runner is secured to a-ceiling or ceiling support, and a floor runner 22is secured to the base support 23 in proper alignment with respect to the ceiling runner by fasteners 25, such as nails. The lower edges of the plasterboards are then positioned or seated'in the floor runner, whichin this instance is shown to be in the form of a channel that is U-shaped in cross section, and the plasterboards are then placed in an upright position so that the upper edgeportions thereof contact the edge 20 of the offset portion 20 of the depending flange 17. The holding clips 14 are thenoperatively positioned. In this operation each clip is arranged in a substantially horizontal position whereby the shorter leg 19 thereof may be inserted through one of the elongated openings 18 formed in the ceiling runner. The clip is then turned substantially degrees to a vertical position whereby the short leg embraces the outer surface of long flange 17 of the ceiling runner and the longer leg 7 of the clip resiliently engages the outer surface of the plasterboard. The two legs of the clip 14 are inwardly inclined relative to each other, but when in posi1ion the legs are substantially parallel. This .insures a resilient holding effect which keeps the clips in place until the plaster is applied to the structure.

After the plasterboards have thus been erected, the partition is completed by applying plaster 24 to both sides thereof, taking particularcare to fill the space 26 between the top of the plasterboards and the overhead supporting member 11 and also to insure the passage of sufficient plaster through the openings 18 so as to form plaster keys 27 between the inside surface of the depending leg 17 of the ceiling runners 10 and the plasterboard. The formation of these keys is assured by the spacing of the leg 17 from the plasterboards by the inwardly..bent flange 20 which rests with its edge 20 against theplasterboards. These keys tightly lock the plaster against the plasterboards and prevent possible separation and formation of cracksalong the "line of the bottom edge of the'leg '17. "The plaster also surrounds 'the clips 14, 'thus locking them in place. The overall result is a strong, rigid partition having two rsmooth outer surfaces which Aeffectively conceal the runners, plasterboards and clips. As ,theonly-tool required for verection of the structure is a hammer, ,even relatively unskilled vworkmencan .readily andielfectively erect aipartition..

In Figs. -6 -through 8 .a substantially T-shaped facing strip V28 is shown which embodiesthe ceiling runner 10 -hereinbeforedescribed.V {Iheshorter ange or leg section 15 -of the vrunner 1 0 is Vsecured rby 'spot welding or any .other suitable'means sto the Yinside surface 3G of a substantially 11M-'elongated :member 3- 1 The edges 32 Qf Athe member are turned Vdpwnwardly a slight amount so as Ito-more effectively fholdin place the plaster 33, which is applied .fto -both sides of the plasterboard 34, ,as shown in Fig. 6. Furthermore the 'tirent-edges 32 protect the exposed :outside corners of .the -partition 3S.

To effect curvature of the facing strip 28 to conform to a' rounded ,inside corner, Vsuch `as lin an archway construction, the longer -ange -17 of runner 10 is transversely cutorslit as shown'in Fig. 8. Y V

. The improved keying effect of the plaster in a partition employing runner 10, as lhereinbefore mentioned, is like- 4wise incorporated in partition 3S :using `facing strip 28.

Y Holding yclip 14 or any .other suitable means may lbe rused to hold the facing strip 28 .resiliently against the plasterboard 34. In some .instances it'may "be desirable tosecure Ithe plasterboard .to fthe ange '17 ofthe facing strip by means ofa'tie .wire extending-transversely through the plasterboard andthe openings 118 of .the flange (not shown), so as to preventrelative sliding movement Vof the plaster 'board and facing strip. The facing strip :28

Vis so -arranged with `respect -to the board 34, that .a space is provided between member A31l and the edge yof the board 34; which space is subsequently `iilled with plaster 33, `as shown in'Fig. '6. Y

Thus Yit will be `seen that a'partition wall construction has been provided which may be readily erected or dismantled and also Vhas ymany improved structural characteris'tics. Furthermore, the lceiling runner employed in this construction is durable andrigid land adapted to withstand rough treatment whilebeing handled and is simple in design, effective in operation, and V-ineiqbensive to produce. A facing str ip incorporating the ceiling runner has been provided which likewise has many' improved structural advantages.

v-While I havedisclosed the preferred embodiment of ,this invention, it willgbe understood, of course, that, the invention is notV to be limited thereto since many modicationsmaygbe made, and it lis contemplated, therefore, by theappended claims, to cover any suchmodications as fall withinthe truespiritand scopeofv this invention.

l. In a wall, the combination of a supported lath panel, a runner for reinforcing an exposed edge of the wall, and a clip securing Said runner'to said .supported lath panel,

said r-unnercornprising a .substantially at head sectiony having ,a width corresponding substantially to .the thickness of the wall and a length correspondingsubstantially surface of said lath Vpanel whereby onlysaid offset portion is `incontact with theadjacentpanel surface and the remainder of ksaid angesection is spaced therefrom; said clip comprising a substantially lU-shaped body embracing the edge of said lath panel and having one leg thereof projecting throughone of the apertures'of said runner flange section and resting against said ange section, and the other leg thereof resting against the surface of said lath panel vopposite `said adjacent surface to effect yieldable gripping of saidlath panel edge portion and saidA lrunner ange'section between the legs of said clip. Y

2. -In a wall, the combination of a llath panel, a clip, anda runner disposed adjacent one surface of said Alath panel for use in securing the latter to a stationary support; said runner comprising an'gelongated resilient first section for attachment Yto such a support and deformable with respect thereto when in such attached relation, and an apertured ange second section extending angularly in one direction :from said nflrst'section andibeingprovided .with an offset portion-spaced from said Viirst'section and protruding from v.oneside lof said second section toward `the adjacent surface of said panel whereby only said offset portion is lin contact'with the .adjacentpanel surface'gand -theremainderof said second section in spaced therefrom; said vclip `comprising a hook-shapedportion with `one segment thereof Aextending through one aperture in'said second section, asecond segment thereof Yextending 'fromk 3. 'In a plastered wall, (the combination -of a stationary Y support, a vlath panel having VKplanar exposed surfaces, a plaster coat applied to the exposed-surfaces of said lath panel, a :runner mountedon'said stationary vsupport and having a-dependingseetion disposed adjacent one exposed surface of said panel, and means engaging the other exposed ypanel surface .and'said depending runner section and securing said panel and `runner in assembledrelaf tion; said runner comprising an elongated rst flange sec- 3tion attached yto -said'stationary support,Y and a depending elongated apertured second ange sectionextending -angularly from said-first flange section andlforming said dey pending section disposed'adjacent said one lexposed panel surface, lsaid second ange ,section `having the elongated- 'free edge thereof koffset and protruding from ,one side of said second vange section toward said one exposed .surlface of `said panel whereby only saidoiset edge is in contact with Vsaid exposed panelsurface and the re,- vmainder of said second `flange sectionjis spacedtheref from and v substantially paralleli therewith and ,cooperates4 therewith yto form a cavity, said second flange section being provided with a plurality of apertures disposed opposite said ,exposed panel surface .and communicating with said cavity, a portionV of said plaster coat vextending ,through saidapertures into said cavity.v

634,484 sylvester oct. 10, 1899 1,773,897 Johnson Aug.26,1930 '1,808,338 VBaum .L June f2, "1931 1,886,320 Waite ;Nov.- 1, -1932 2,321,304V YMeNet-l -June s, `1943 2,321,373 -Eades g vJune 8, `1943 2,347,276 Nicholson Apr. 25, 194.4 2,368,620 strom Y 1945 2,387,342 Olsen 1945 2,410,922 Balduf--- 1946 2,472,756 Nelsson Y Iune17, 1949 EQREIGN PATENTS f 571,607 Great Britain Aug. 3'1, 19,45 

3. IN A PLASTERED WALL, THE COMBINATION OF A STATIONARY SUPPORT, A LATH PANEL HAVING PLANAR EXPOSED SURFACES, A PLASTER COAT APPLIED TO THE EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID LATH PANEL, A RUNNER MOUNTED ON SAID STATIONARY SUPPORT AND HAVING A DEPENDING SECTION DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE EXPOSED SURFACE OF SAID PANEL, AND MEANS ENGAGING THE OTHER EXPOSED PANEL SURFACE AND SAID DEPENDING RUNNER SECTION AND SECURING SAID PANEL AND RUNNER IN ASSEMBLED RELATION; SAID RUNNER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FIRST FLANGE SECTION ATTACHED TO SAID STATIONARY SUPPORT, AND A DEPENDING ELONGATED APERTURED SECOND FLANGE SECTION EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM SAID FIRST FLANGE SECTION AND FORMING SAID DEPENDING SECTION DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID ONE EXPOSED PANEL SURFACE, SAID SECOND FLANGE SECTION HAVING THE ELONGATED FREE EDGE THEREOF OFFSET AND PROTRUDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID SECOND FLANGE SECTION TOWARD SAID ONE EXPOSED SURFACE OF SAID PANEL WHEREBY ONLY SAID OFFSET EDGE IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID EXPOSED PANEL SURFACE AND THE REMAINDER OF SAID SECOND FLANGE SECTION IS SPACED THERE- 